Suspected Arson Destroys Barn in Wechelderzande, Two Held
Two men have been arrested following a devastating barn fire in Wechelderzande, a village in the municipality of Lille in Belgium’s Antwerp province, with investigators finding clear indications of deliberate arson. The fire, which broke out shortly before 1:00 AM on Thursday, 11 June 2026, completely destroyed a barn and caused extensive smoke damage to an adjacent residential building, leaving two families temporarily displaced.
Fire and Emergency Response
Fire services were called to the Gebroeders De Winterstraat (N153) in the centre of Wechelderzande shortly before 1:00 AM after a wooden garden house behind a residence caught fire. By the time crews arrived, the structure was fully engulfed in flames, which had already spread to an adjoining barn.
“Upon arrival it turned out to be a severe fire,” said Tom Van Hemeldonck of Hulpverleningszone Taxandria, as reported by VRT NWS. “We had to deploy many resources to protect the surrounding houses. Only the barn is lost. The house nearby has suffered extensive smoke damage.”
Firefighting teams from both Hulpverleningszone Taxandria and Brandweerzone Rand responded in force, successfully preventing the flames from reaching the main residential building. However, the adjacent house suffered significant smoke damage and has been declared temporarily uninhabitable. One resident who inhaled excessive smoke was taken to hospital for treatment but has since been released and is recovering at home.
The fire was fully extinguished by approximately 4:00 AM. The barn’s outer walls had become structurally unstable due to the heat and had to be deliberately collapsed using a crane from the municipality of Lille’s technical service to ensure the safety of the adjacent road.
Arson Investigation
Following the extinguishing of the fire, the forensic laboratory and a fire expert from the Antwerp public prosecutor’s office arrived at the scene to conduct a thorough investigation. Their preliminary findings pointed to deliberate arson.
“There are indications that it concerns deliberate arson,” said Kato Belmans, spokesperson for the Antwerp public prosecutor’s office, as cited by HLN.
Police from Politie Regio Turnhout acted swiftly, arresting two suspects — men aged 44 and 45 — who live in the vicinity of the affected property but are not the building’s residents. “Two possible suspects, two men aged 45 and 44, could be arrested,” Belmans told NNieuws. “It is being investigated whether they have anything to do with it.”
Community Impact and Road Closure
The fire caused significant disruption in the centre of Wechelderzande. The Gebroeders De Winterstraat (N153), a regional road running through the village, was closed in both directions for several hours while emergency services worked at the scene. RTV reported that the road has since been reopened.
Two residential units in the building adjacent to the barn are affected by the smoke damage, and their occupants are currently seeking alternative accommodation. Local authorities have not yet released an estimate of the financial damage caused by the fire.
What’s Next
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine the exact circumstances of the arson and the potential motive. The two arrested men have not yet been formally charged, and prosecutors are continuing to gather evidence to establish their involvement.
Belgian law treats arson as a serious criminal offense, and the involvement of both the forensic laboratory and a fire expert from the public prosecutor’s office signals the formal nature of the investigation. According to the Belga news agency, no information has yet been released regarding a possible motive for the fire.
As the community of Wechelderzande begins to assess the damage, the case serves as a reminder of the devastating impact that deliberate acts of arson can have on residential neighbourhoods. Residents affected by the smoke damage are expected to remain in temporary accommodation while cleanup and repair work proceeds.